Case against Prigozhin will be dropped and he will be sent to Belarus, Kremlin spokesperson says
From CNN's Anna Chernova
Criminal charges against Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin will be dropped and he will be sent to neighboring Belarus, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
"You will ask me what will happen to Prigozhin personally?" Peskov said in a conference call with reporters Saturday. "The criminal case will be dropped against him. He himself will go to Belarus."
Peskov's office later added in a text message to journalists that Prigozhin has a guarantee from Russian President Vladimir Putin to leave the country as part of the deal brokered to halt the march of Wagner forces toward Moscow.
“If you ask what kind of guarantee there is that Prigozhin will be able to leave for Belarus, this is the word of the President of Russia," Peskov's office said. "The counter-terrorist operation regime will be lifted in the nearest future."
Earlier Saturday, the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced the introduction of a "counter-terrorist operation regime" in Moscow, as well as the Moscow region and Voronezh region. Moscow's mayor also declared Monday a "non-working day."
4:03 p.m. ET, June 24, 2023
Prigozhin says he turned his forces around from a march toward Moscow. Catch up here
From CNN staff
Wagner fighters pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don to return to base on June 24. Stringer/Reuters
The announcement comes as the Belarusian government claimed President Alexander Lukashenko had reached a deal with the Wagner boss to halt the march of his forces on Moscow. Prigozhin said the move was in accordance with an unspecified plan and intended to avoid Russian bloodshed.
If you're just now reading in, here's what you should know:
How we got here: Prigozhin on Friday accused Russia’s military of attacking a Wagner camp and killing a “huge amount” of his men. He vowed to retaliate with force, insinuating that his forces would “destroy” any resistance, including roadblocks and aircraft.
By Saturday, Igor Artamonov, governor of the southwestern Russian region of Lipetsk, said Wagner equipment was moving across the region's territory. Russian military also carried out “combat measures” in the southern Russia city of Voronezh, the region's governor said, in light of Prigozhin's claim Saturday to have seized control of key military facilities in the Voronezh and Rostov regions.
Precautions taken: Artamonov said authorities in Lipetsk were "taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population" as he implied that roads had been dug up by Wagner fighters. In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that a "counter-terrorist regime" was declared in the city and also declared Monday a "non-working day." Russian authorities earlier offered amnesty to Wagner mercenaries who agreed to lay down their arms, a lawmaker from the State Duma told Russian state media TASS on Saturday.
What others are saying: Former Russian President and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, accused Wagner of a "staged coup d'état," Russian state media RIA Novosti reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and allies reaffirmed their “unwavering support for Ukraine” in a call with leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom Saturday about the situation in Russia.
Since Prigozhin's announcement to stand down, Putin and Lukashenko had a phone call to discuss "the results of negotiations" with Prigozhin, according to the Belarusian presidential press service. Putin thanked Lukashenko, the press service said.
Ukraine's reaction: In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Putin is “very afraid,” saying that the Russian president is "probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself.”
What else is going on: Ukrainian forces launched simultaneous counteroffensives in multiple directions, according to Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. She said that "there is progress in all directions" without giving any further detail.
Earlier Saturday, Ukraine claimed it had taken back territory in the east that was held by Russia since it annexed Crimea in 2014. Ukrainian forces claim to have taken the area prior to the apparent Wagner insurrection but only announced it Saturday. CNN cannot independently verify battlefield reports.
Here's the latest map of control:
3:50 p.m. ET, June 24, 2023
Wagner head says he ordered fighters to turn back to avoid Russian bloodshed
From CNN's Mariya Knight
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an audio recording Saturday that he had turned his private mercenary forces around from a march toward Moscow to avoid bloodshed.
“Now is the moment when blood can be shed. Therefore, realizing all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed from one of the sides, we turn our columns around and leave in the opposite direction to the field camps according to the plan," Prigozhin said.
The Belarusian government has claimed President Alexander Lukashenko reached a deal with the Wagner boss to halt the march.
3:23 p.m. ET, June 24, 2023
Ukraine launches simultaneous counteroffensives against several Russian fronts, defense official says
From CNN's Mariya Knight
Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar speaks at a news conference on November 10, 2022, in Kyiv. Hennadii Minchenko/Ukrinform/Future Publishing/Getty Images/File
Taking advantage of the unfolding turmoil in Moscow on Saturday, Ukrainian forces launched simultaneous counteroffensives in multiple directions, according to Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar.
"The eastern grouping of troops today launched an offensive in several directions at the same time," Maliar said in a Telegram post, naming several cities and towns, including Bakhmut and Yahidne, among the places where the offensive was launched.
Maliar said that "there is progress in all directions" without giving any further detail.
She said there is heavy fighting ongoing in the south of the country, adding that Russian forces are "on the defensive, making great efforts to stop our offensive actions."
3:05 p.m. ET, June 24, 2023
Putin and Lukashenko discuss results of negotiations with Wagner, Belarusian presidential press service says
From CNN's Katharina Krebs and Nathan Hodge
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko. Getty Images/Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko had a phone call to discuss "the results of negotiations" with Wagner private military company chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to the Belarusian presidential press service.
"The President of Belarus informed the President of Russia in detail about the results of negotiations with the leadership of PMC [private military company] Wagner," the press service said in a statement Saturday. "The President of Russia supported and thanked the Belarusian colleague for the work done."
Prigozhin announced Saturday he was turning his forces around from a march toward Moscow, saying only that the move was in accordance with an unspecified plan and intended to avoid Russian bloodshed.
The Belarusian government claimed Lukashenko brokered a deal with Prigozhin, without providing specifics.
2:48 p.m. ET, June 24, 2023
Zelensky claims Putin is “very afraid” following Prigozhin's threats
From CNN's Mariya Knight
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a news conference in Kyiv on June 16. Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg/Getty Images/File
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin is “very afraid,” after Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said he was turning his fighters around from a march toward Moscow.
“I will say it in Russian: The man from the Kremlin is obviously very afraid and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky also said Putin's own actions were to blame for the situation facing him.
“He knows what he is afraid of because he himself created this threat. All evil, all losses, all hatred – he himself who spreads it,” Zelensky said.
Recent developments in Russia, Zelensky said, show that “the bosses of Russia do not control anything,” adding that “it is happening on Russian territory, which is fully loaded with weapons.”
“In one day, they lost several of their million-plus cities and showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs and anyone else how easy it is to capture Russian cities and, probably, arsenals with weapons,” Zelensky said.
2:27 p.m. ET, June 24, 2023
US intel saw signs Prigozhin was planning challenge to Russian military, sources say
From CNN's Alex Marquardt, Jim Sciutto, and Natasha Bertrand
A Wagner member stands on top of an armored vehicle in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24. AP
United States intelligence officials believe Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had been planning a major challenge to Russia’s military leadership for quite some time, three people familiar with the matter tell CNN — but it was unclear what the ultimate aim would be.
Intelligence officials briefed congressional leaders known as the Gang of Eight earlier this week concerning Wagner movements and equipment buildups near Russia, two of the people said.
US and Western intelligence officials saw signs Prigozhin was making preparations for such a move, including by massing weapons and ammunition, one western intelligence official and another person familiar with the intelligence said.
The official said they believe Prigozhin’s claims of an ammunition shortage for operations in Ukraine was deliberate deception, to help lay the groundwork for a potential military challenge to Russian leaders.
A source familiar with the intelligence said “it all happened very quickly,” and it was difficult to discern how serious Prigozhin was about threatening the Russian military and where he would take his troops.
As CNN has previously reported, US officials were caught off guard by the speed with which the situation unfolded Friday night and escalated into Saturday, causing senior officials to cancel planned international trips and convene emergency meetings across the government.
Update: This post has been updated with the latest information from sources.
1:57 p.m. ET, June 24, 2023
Prigozhin says his forces "are turning our columns around," amid claims of deal brokered by Lukashenko
From CNN's Katharina Krebs and Nathan Hodge
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks in this screengrab from a video released on June 24. Press service of "Concord"/Handout/Reuters
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin published a new audio recording Saturday claiming he was turning his forces around from a march toward Moscow.
“We turning our columns around and going back in the other direction toward our field camps, in accordance with the plan,” he said in a message on Telegram.
The announcement comes as the Belarusian government claimed President Alexander Lukashenko had reached a deal with Wagner boss to halt the march of his forces on Moscow.
"This morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed his Belarusian counterpart on the situation in southern Russia with the private military company Wagner," the statement said. "The heads of state agreed on joint actions. "As a follow-up to the agreements, the President of Belarus, having being additionally informed on the situation through his own channels, and in agreement with the President of Russia, held talks with the head of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin," the statement continued. "Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of armed persons of the Wagner company on the territory of Russia and take further steps to de-escalate tensions."
CNN has reached to Prigozhin's office for comment.
1:03 p.m. ET, June 24, 2023
Biden reaffirms support for Ukraine during call with France, Germany and the UK
From CNN’s Jasmine Wright
US President Joe Biden speaks at a press conference on June 22. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
President Joe Biden and US allies on Saturday reaffirmed their “unwavering support for Ukraine” in a call with leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom about the unfolding situation in Russia between the military and Wagner private military company.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have all remained closely aligned with Biden over the course of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Biden has frequently spoken and met with the trio over the last year.
Biden was briefed on the unfolding situation Saturday morning, the White House said, in addition to Friday night.
